WBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association

[WLCALUM83]

Could it happen - sure, but you'll get no karma from me until they actually play a game on that taped court. 

For all we know, it could just be an extra court for practicing.   

Will you be there Friday, October the 13th?  I cannot believe the Dutch will be pounded like they were at Calvin this week.

Unfortunately no - so I'll wait to here your analysis.  And I agree that it will be a much tighter match than in GR.

Heard Tri-State's volleyball team swept Kalamazoo at home last night. That win puts the Thunder right in the thick of the conference race. 

[Flying Dutch Fan]

This might have already been covered, so please get me caught up.   How are the defending National Champs going to do this year.

The graduates will certainly be missed (those Ebels girls were awesome), but that was an extremely deep team last year.  Henderson, Warsen, and Boles are returning starters, and all are juniors (actually Henderson is a senior, but was a medical red-shirt her freshman year, so she has junior eligibility). 

Wood, Jurik, Lange, and Kopke all played significant minutes and will continue to contribute.  The "3rd string " (all freshman last year) played often last year against 1st or 2nd string oppponents and typically still increased leads. 

Then add in that Coach Mo had a great recruiting year with these top notch players:

Jenny Cowens (Dexter HS, Mich.), Philana Green (Grandville HS, Mich.), Megan Mejeur (St. Joseph HS, Mich.)

and things are looking pretty bright for another great year.

[Dark Knight]

Hope will definitely be the pre-season MIAA favorite and perhaps #1 ranked nationally. However, they are losing league co-MVP Bria Ebels, who was the key player in their tournament success. How will that affect team leadership and chemistry?

Calvin's team was almost all freshmen and sophomores last year, with one junior and one senior. Losing Sara Winkle will hurt, but the extra year of experience for the remainder of the team will certainly help. And the word is that Calvin will have a good new player to improve outside shooting.  The final Massey ratings had Hope #1 with power 27.6, Calvin at #26 nationally with power 9.2. Perhaps Calvin will be in the top 25 to start the season, and maybe less than an 18-point underdog to Hope.

Albion ended last year with a Massey power rating of 1. They are losing All-MIAA first-team Jamie Fornettie, who could dribble-drive around almost anyone in the league. Alma (power -1) is losing All-MIAA first-team Darcie Phillip and second-team Katey Peacock. Losing two key players will hurt.

Olivet ended last year with a power rating of -2. They aren't losing any All-MIAA players. St. Mary's (-6) is losing All-MIAA 2nd team Bridget Boyce.

Kalamazoo (power -10) is losing their only all-MIAA player, Stefanie Salasky. Adrian (-11) didn't have any All-MIAA players, so they aren't losing any.

Tri-State ended last year with a Massey power rating of -16. They're losing All-MIAA second team Shanna Hoogenboom (whose name would be right at home on Hope or Calvin's roster). Based on power rankings at the end of last season, they'll be a 43-point underdog to Hope.

[Grutte Dirk]

Any truth to the idea of Hope playing "big" volleyball matches during the 2006-2007 season on the main floor with a taped court?

Any truth to the idea that you post this stuff just to get a reaction?

Okay, you think I'm provoking . . . . if it's true will you apologize?  I'm not trying to be silly, just putting something out there that I heard.  This is the internet, isn't it?
Regardless, I don't think my question was much to react to, or controversial.

Nothing to apologize for - at least I don't think there is.  I was just ribbing you a little. 
It is interesting if you've actually heard that from a reliable source.

Well, I saw the court tonight.  The Calvin v. Hope match was in the DeYoung Volleyball Gymnasium, not on the DeVos Fieldhouse court.

But the basketball court was taped off for volleyball.

Karma for the Flying Dutch Fan.

[Grutte Dirk]

Unfortunately no - so I'll wait to here your analysis.  And I agree that it will be a much tighter match than in GR.

The 3-1 Calvin victory does not tell the tightness of the match.  The Dutch definitely gave Calvin everything they could handle.

[Grutte Dirk]

Maybe so - but then it's not like you get 3400 people out to watch Volleyball.  I will still bet it's the best DIII volleyball court you could find.

While there were not 3400 fans, there were at least 250 people without seating.  We counted 142 standing in the enterance and sitting on the stairs and I was told there were another 150 in a room above the court (big windows and chairs to stand on).

BUT, the fans were loud, louder than it would have been if we'd been in the DeVos.

[Oval]

The 3-1 Calvin victory does not tell the tightness of the match.  The Dutch definitely gave Calvin everything they could handle.

First time Hope has lost a competition in the DeVos building.

[Dark Knight]

So is this the unofficial MIAA volleyball board?

Obviously the knights are doing well, sporting a shiny new 19-1 record. The only tough match they've had in the MIAA ended up as the first victory over a Dutch team at the DeVos in four games.

So how is it that they're ranked #17, when the other four one-loss teams in the AVCA top-25 are ranked one through four? They've even played some ranked competition, beating #13 Witt and losing to #19 Ohio Nothern early in the season.

I suppose there's not much respect nationally for MIAA volleyball. But the tournament this weekend in which Calvin will play four non-MIAA teams should help, especially if Calvin can defeat #10 Central.

Is there some other place with information or discussion about volleyball?

[Wydown Blvd.]

Playing "some" ranked competition is not enough to get the team ranked in the top four. Wash U, ranked number two, has wins against eight ranked teams and Division II UMSL (University of Missourri, St. Louis)

(Note: These are the oppenent's rankings at the date of the match)

Their only loss was at #1 Juniata College

Just wanted to throw a comparison out there, although, I agree that Calvin should be ranked higher than #17th.

[Dark Knight]

Playing "some" ranked competition is not enough to get the team ranked in the top four. Wash U, ranked number two, has wins against eight ranked teams and Division II UMSL (University of Missourri, St. Louis)

(Note: These are the oppenent's rankings at the date of the match)

Their only loss was at #1 Juniata College

Just wanted to throw a comparison out there, although, I agree that Calvin should be ranked higher than #17th.

Well, Calvin defeated four non-MIAA teams this weekend, without losing a game--including a 3-game victory against #10 Central. Maybe enough for the top 10?

[Preto]

So is this the unofficial MIAA volleyball board?

Calvin defeated Central (IA) 30-23, 30-27, 30-25

CSTV/AVCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll

[Wydown Blvd.]

Dark Night,

Should be enough for a top 10...

[WWWRHH]

It is time to talk basketball!

Other than Hope again finishing on top, does anyone have MIAA conference ranking predictions?

My rankings are based on last season's second half performances, and what I can gather about returning key players.

1. Hope

2. Calvin

3. St. Mary's

4. Albion

5. Kalamazoo

6. Olivet

7. Alma

8. Adrian

9. Tri-State

Albion did not look like the same team in the second half when Fornetti was limited by injury.  Is there anyone ready to step up and take her place.

It appears that St. Mary's has Kesler, Newsom and Lipke back.  This may be their year to move into the top tier.

In spite of their record, Kalamazoo was a better and more disciplined team under their new coach.  It looks like they have a taller team this year and if the new recruits come through it could be the Hornet's year to move out of the bottom tier.  I'm sure my #5 ranking is not in line with the CW. 

Olivet's effort to jump start the program with JC transfers fizziled in the second half.  Are any of the freshman listed on the pre-season roster likely to make an immediate impact?

Although Hope lost a couple of key performers to graduation, I understand that this year's recruits are very good.  There are even a couple of very sound players (that could be in the rotation for several MIAA teams) that will be getting PT on the JV.  A couple of last year's freshman should be ready to step up and make real contributions this year.

I would like to hear input from around the league so I can start putting together my "scouting reports" - I wouldn't want to enter the season unprepared .

[WWWRHH]

I'm afraid this really has become a volleyball board   

[Bushop]

Hope Women's Basketball roster